Sexton is the best in the world
JOHNNY Sexton capped off a memorable 12 months by being named World Rugby Player of the Year last night.
Sexton pipped All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett to the top prize in Monte Carlo. New Zealand wing Rieko Ioane was also nominated along with the Springboks pairing of Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx.
Barrett took home the award for the past two years but Sexton’s stellar form could not be ignored this time around.
The 33-year-old spearheaded Leinster’s charge to a Pro14 and European Champions Cup double having steered Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam.
The Leinster fly-half played a key role in Ireland’s 2-1 series win in Australia in the summer.
The 16-9 win over New Zealand earlier this month – Ireland’s first ever on home soil – was the coup de grace to a brilliant year.
He is the first Irish player to claim the coveted award since Keith Wood in 2001.
Next year’s World Cup in Japan is now a major target, but Sexton, fresh from being named the best rugby player on the planet in 2018, insisted that Ireland have room for improvement.
‘It’s been an incredible year for Irish rugby, to win everything we could, really,’ he said.
‘It’s been very special, and a few of us have ended up here tonight.
‘There are areas we’ve definitely highlighted to improve, which will be important in World Cup year.
‘Teams try to peak for World Cup years. People ask have we peaked too soon? We haven’t peaked, so we’re just getting better and hopefully we can continue to do that.
‘You have to improve ahead of the general curve. We know everyone else is going to get better.
‘We’ll be going into a lot of games now as favourites after what’s happened this year, so that will be a challenge for us.
‘We’ve got to deal with being favourites and I’m sure we can do that.’
Joe Schmidt was named coach of the year while his all-conquering Ireland side were named team of the year to cap off an incredible campaign for Irish rugby.
Munster and Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony, who accepted the award on Schmidt’s behalf, said: ‘He’s been a super coach over the last five years
‘He did text me to say he’d like to thank his management and his backroom staff.
‘It’s a huge team thing that he builds. He wanted to pay a huge thanks to them.’